Captain
and Mail Agent of British Steamer Trent Enter Protest
Against the Seizure of Ministers Mason and Slidell.

Charleston,
Nov. 1.--The Courier of this morning has Havana dates to the
24th to November, which state that the captain and mail agent of the
British steamer Trent had entered their protest before the proper
authorities at St. Thomas, and sent a special messenger on the steamer Laplatte
to England to report the Mason and Slidell affair to the home
government.

Adjourned
for Ten Days.--The legislature has adjourned for ten days.Here is twenty days of the sessions spent, and what is the
practical result of the labor?The
first ten days were used up in the consideration of a question to
adjourn to New Orleans, on the standing proposition from the council of
that city, to give the assembly a room free of rent, as though the state
were paying rent for the building erected here at an expense of over a
million dollars to the people.The
new and simple minded members of the assembly have been, as before said,
amused the past ten days with that kind of legislative logic, which has
been so profusely and heretofore, to make them believe that the language
of the constitution does not mean what it says, but something else,
better suiting the purpose of a handful of gentlemen in New Orleans, who
fancy that the state is in their custody, body and soul. Twenty days
gone.The daily expense of
the two branches of the assembly may be sat down at $700, a low figure.
Twenty days lost is only $14,000, which is a small matter in flush
times.Some of the members
fought when they came back, that fifteen or twenty days would suffice to
do all needful to be done, but this illusion was dispelled by the
discovery of an ordinance of the convention fixing the limits of the
session to sixty days, and because of this the legislature perforce must
sit sixty days.Profound logic!Wise
and patriotic legislation!Verily,
we might ask, if there be, in fact, the necessity of a convention to
make another constitution, if for nothing more than to get rid of annual
sessions of the legislature; what you see use of constitution's when
opened, flagrant violations of it are proposed and consummated.There must be a change from the internal evils, by which the
forbearing citizens of Louisiana are now surrounded.What will be the summing up of the twenty days' session?Firstly, a proposition to return to New Orleans.Secondly, the election of senators to the Confederate Congress,
and thirdly, the election of a state printer.The excuse for traveling committees is lame and impotent.That on banks and banking institutions has all the information
here, in reports of the board of currency, and a trip to the city to
examine such things only fuddles the committee and makes dark to light
within.--Gazette and Comet.

Reported
Arrival of the Rebel Steamer Nashville.--Washington,
Nov. 28, 1861.There is a
report here to-day that the rebel steamer Nashville has run the
blockade off Charleston, and injured that port with a valuable cargo,
consisting of woolens, arms, wires for telegraphic use, percussion,
salt, &c., &c.Well
this report comes only through rebel channels, there is reason for
believing it, as one of our consuls notified the government sometimes
since that the Nashville was loaded in a certain foreign port,
and was intending to run the blockade.

From
the Cincinnati Commercial.--Our special telegraphic
Washington correspondent says the secretary of war and secretary of the
interior, who attended the complimentary dinner given to George D.
Prentice by Colonel Forney, indulged in a discussion of the Negro
question as involved in the war.Secretary
Cameron reiterated the views expressed in the late endorsement of John
Cochrane's speech, and Secretary Smith took ground in opposition to the
arming of Negroes, saying such was not the policy of the administration.The people, would ever maybe their views to the merits of the
case argued by the distinguished secretaries, will probably be agreed
that proper occasion for members of the cabinet to discuss matters of
public policy of the highest importance, would be found in cabinet
council.It is rather
unseemly for secretaries to hold after dinner debates on the Negro
question, to be reported by telegraph.Besides, Mr. Cameron might as well be notified that his sudden
conversion to radical views of war policy, and his readiness to deal in
worthy demonstrations, will not cause the country to forget his part in
the persecution of General Fremont, and that the sincerity of his fresh
anti-slavery zeal will as likely not be questioned by the incredulous.

The
country would be agreeably surprised if speech-making in Washington were
left to the congressmen, who will soon appear with a full supply a war
literature, adapted to all tastes.

Scene
in a Pittsburg Theater.--A Federal Captain After a Secesh Lady.--the
following account of a "scene" in a Pittsburgh theater is from
the Dispatch of that city:

A
disgraceful scene, not put down in the bills, was enacted at the theater
on Monday evening.It
appears that Miss Maggie Mitchell has been charged with having, while at
the south, exhibited some secession proclivity used, which we believed
consistent in singing the Marseilles southern hymn, and a presenting or
receiving a secession flag.This,
it appears, aroused the ire of an exceedingly patriotic lieutenant or
captain, G.L.Braun, and he accordingly visited the theater on Monday evening,
in company with some friends, and commenced his proceedings by grossly
insulting the gentleman present, whom he alleged, was formerly a member
of a southern theater.He succeeded in disturbing the audience, frightening the
female portion of it, and disconcerting the performers.He was remonstrated with by the officers on his conduct, and
finally ejected by them from the house and taken to the mayor's office.

How
he was released we did not inquire, but in a few moments he returned to
the theater, and was particularly noisy in asserting his determination
to have an explanation, and attracted the attention of the audience by
the singular exhibition of an American officer in uniform in governing
to incite a riot in a place of public amusement.

When
the curtain fell, the chivalric captain, or lieutenant, was boisterous
and his calls for Miss Mitchell, who had linked appeared before the
curtain, escorted by manager Henderson.Our hero demanded an exclamation, whereupon the manager stated
briefly that the lady was too much agitated to speak, but that he was
authorized by her to state that she had never trampled upon the American
flag.This denial of the
charge never publicly made against the lady, mollified Capt. or Lieut.
Braun, and he testified his satisfaction in an emphatic manner.

MONDAYDECEMBER 9, 1861THE
BOSTON DAILY ADVERTISER

THE
PIRATE SUMTER.
SHE BURNS TWO AMERICAN PRIZES.

New
York, Dec. 8.—Schooner Emeline, from Fort Royal,
Martinique, Nov. 18, reports that she left the pirate Sumter,
which would begin coaling on the 12th. She had taken two
prizes, viz: the brig DanielTrowbridge of New Haven, and
brig JosephPark of Boston. Capt. Lyon of the DanielTrowbridge came passenger in the Emeline. The DanielTrowbridge left New York Oct. 8, for Demarara, with a cargo of
provisions, and was captured Oct. 27, in lat. 17.33, lon. 56 34. The
captain and crew were taken on board the Sumter, with all the
provisions she wanted, when the brig was set on fire and destroyed. The
captain and crew were landed at Fort Royal Nov. 6.

The
brig JosephPark was from Pernambuco for New York, in
ballast, and was captured Sept. 24, and set on fire. Captain Briggs and
crew were landed at Fort Royal. The mate and crew of the DanielTrowbridge
will be sent home the first opportunity.

The
Sumter was allowed to refit without objection.

THE
MAYOR AND THE FORT WARREN PRISONERS

The
Journal undertakes to raise a false issue, by saying that the
Mayor has only been "charged with humanity" and sending the
stores from the Evans House to rebel prisoners at Fort Warren.Humanity, however, has in our view nothing to do with the case.We blame nobody for wishing to relieve actual
necessities--although it would have been pleasant and Mayor not made his
zeal so offensive that the United States were forced to warn him and his
subordinates off premises.We
should have thought it highly praiseworthy had His Honor and his
aldermen contributed from their Home Stores for any such necessary
purpose, and we did at the time take pleasure in notifying our readers
that the contributions from private sources could be left at the Mayor's
office.

But
the use of the Evans House stores is quite another matter.Those supplies were contributed for a specific object, under
circumstances which make the trust a sacred one.The Mayor had no more right to divert them from their original
object without the consent of the donors than the editors of this paper
have.If the industrious
and patriotic ladies of Massachusetts had sent those articles in, not to
submit them to Mr. Wightman's discretion for distribution, but to meet a
particular one, in which many of the givers have the deepest and
tenderest interest.A
gentleman said in our hearing three days ago, that he had caused
articles to be sent in from his own family, because he had two sons in
the army and knew not how soon they might need this very aid--he had
undertaken to provide for their wants and not for those of the rebels.But the breach of trust in this case is too plain to need much
argument.We will guarantee
that Mr. Wightman show find within half a mile of the City Hall today if
he chooses, cases where assistance is needed just as urgently as that
Fort Warren, and assistance of the same sort.But has he a right to rush to the Evans House and take thence the
means of relieving this destitution?Not at all, for this charity was not intended for that class of
cases, and neither was it intended for the class to which he perverted
it.

Mr.
Wightman's friends may treat this as a small matter, but it does not
seem thus to a large part of the contributors to the Evans House.We happen to know that a very deep indignation is felt at what is
deemed a gross betrayal of confidence, and that the determination has
been expressed by not the few, to have the question settled, whether
their gifts are placed at the disposal of Mr. Wightman or not, before
going any farther.

Junketing.--The
friends of Mr. Wightman do not pretend to deny the fact of the prodigal
waste of the city's money in junketing by committees of the city
government.They confess
that outrageous abuses is of this sort do exist.But they undertake to defend the Mayor in one of four ways--

1.They declare that all the figure is brought up as to this waste
of money belonged to Mayor Lincoln's administration.This is because there has been as yet no complete financial year
under Mr. Wightman.But it
is notorious that as far as he is gone, the expenditure of money for
purely convivial purposes has been greater than ever before.

2.They assert that the Mayor has no control over expenses of this
sort.But the city
ordinances require that every expenditure should pass before the Mayor
and received his signature and approval in some form.Even if he had no personal influence therefore, he has at
least an official discretion which might prevail for the protection of
the public funds.

3.
The Post says that as to the reçherche entertainment at the
Revere House on the Fourth of July, there was a public desire to have
"more than usual display" on that day.But in fact the city council had been forced to forgo the usual
dinner by outside indignation at the use of public money at such a time;
and after this decision the Mayor had no right to set up his private
judgment against that of the representative body of the city government;
besides which the "collation" at the Revere House was no
"display," but the private feast in a select number of
bacchanalians.

4.
Mr. Wightman's friends are pleased to pronounce the charges against him
in this respect to be "mean an unscrupulous." That it is never
"mean" to expose the mean arts by which an unscrupulous
official ingratiate himself with the view of reelection.

How
it is to be Done.--As a sample of the influences brought to bear in
Mr. Wightman's behalf, we give the following extract from a handbill
which was distributed by his friends yesterday in the bar-rooms and
oysters saloons:--

"The
contest is not a political one.It
is simply a trial of strength between Liberal Men of Boston who are in
favor of good sound laws carefully executed, and the illiberal portion
of our citizens, who regard men with liberal ideas as unfit for any
office, and disqualified almost for any social position.They are men who aspire to high places that they may carry out
their impracticable theories and reduce Boston to the level of
Connecticut Blue-Law village.They
see vice and corruption where others see only recreation and harmless
amusement, and they deny to their fellow men that liberty of private
judgment which in this country is their birthright."

"Recreation
and harmless amusement" probably refer to the purchase of the yacht
Una and expense of $2500, for that purpose and no other--and to drunken
feasts at the city institutions and in Mount Hope Cemetery.

TUESDAYDECEMBER 10, 1861THE
BOSTON DAILY ADVERTISER

WHERE
PEACE CAN BE MADE.

We
are interested to see that the Lynchburg (Virginia) Republican
answers with some precision that question when the South can make peace.It cannot do so now--on that point the Lynchburg paper is
clear--and for a good reason.The South has drawn its shoes, its hats, clothes, furniture,
powder, firearms, ice, and even its small supply of soap from the North;
its commercial operations have been carried on here, and in short says
the Virginia writer, "the Yankees have been our factors and bankers
in all things." This must be set right before peace can be
declared. "Were peace declared tomorrow, our merchants would go
North the next day for new purchases of goods!This is so, and cannot be denied, and they would go because they
cannot replenish their shelves from any other quarter at this
time." And therefore the war must continue until the South can
manufacture for itself.Another
object is to be gained too.The
North and foreign powers must be convinced of their dependence on
southern staples for national well-being, and the channels of trade must
be changed.

These
objects, the Lynchburg paper accurately estimates, " will be
accomplished in less than twelve months from this time." In twelve
months the South will be able to manufacture, and Europe will have found
out that it is dependent upon southern cotton.The Virginia writer certainly reckons without his host in these
matters.National
manufactures are not to be forced into existence in one or two years of
war, nor does it now appear as though the conviction of dependence on
the South would ever be forced upon Europe.We may take suggestion, however, as a tolerably strong indication
that the Lynchburg paper does not like to depress the courage of its
readers by holding out the prospect of a very long struggle.

THE
PRESUMED CASE.

According
to the Edinburgh Scotsman, the English government has been misled
into deciding the Mason and Slidell case, under an entire mistake as to
the circumstances and before it could have been known that the case had
actually occurred.

It
is well known that in England it was commonly supposed that the errand
of the James Adger was to intercept the West India mail packet
year the British coast and to seize the rebel envoys.The Edinburgh Paper says that this report led to communications
between the British government and Mr. Adams, in which the latter
disclaimed all knowledge of any such intention on the part of the
commander of the steamer.But,
and here comes the remarkable part of the story, in the words of the Scotsman--

"At
the same time it was ascertained to be the opinion of the law officers
of the Crown that, according to the interpretation of the law, as laid
down in former decisions, the relations of Britain to the American
belligerents are perhaps such that there might have been fair legal
grounds for the American cruiser seizing the mail steamer as a prize,
even in British authors, if it could have been shown that she knowingly
harbored the persons and property of the enemies of the United States,
in the shape of the delegates and their dispatches."

This
story strikes the mind and wants as being somewhat apocryphal, and it is
not helped out at all by the fact that it comes to us, not on the
authority of any London journal, but from the other end of the kingdom.At the same time it must be observed that the common belief,
to which we have referred, as to the business on which the Adger
came, renders it not improbable that the attention of the crown officers
may thus have been called to this point, in advance of all news of the
exploit actually performed by Captain Wilkes.

ENGAGEMENT
OF THE MASSACHUSETTS 13TH.

Frederick,
Md., Dec. 9.-- Col. Leonard of the 13th Massachusetts Regiment
arrived here this afternoon from Williamsport, with important advices
from the upper Potomac.On
Saturday afternoon the rebel force, consisting of a battery of 6 pieces
and about 400 infantry and 200 cavalry, made their appearance at Dam No.
5, on the Virginia side, and commenced throwing shot and shell at the
dam and houses on the Maryland shore, burning a barn and riddling all
the houses within range, continuing the fire until dusk.The only union forces here to oppose the enemy or a company of
the 13th Massachusetts regiment on picket duty, and an unarmed Illinois
regiment.As the
Massachusetts Company were armed with smooth bore muskets their fire was
not effective at that distance.Early
on Sunday morning the rebels resumed the fire with artillery and small
arms, and emboldened by the slight resistance met with on Saturday came
down to the very brink of the river and exposed themselves without fear.During the night Col. Leonard dispatched a canal boat from
Williamsport, with another company of his regiment, armed with Enfield
rifles, who were concealed as skirmishers along the Maryland Shore.On the renewal of the attack the riflemen opened fire from their
concealment, and in a short time the rebel artillery were compelled to
abandoned their battery in hot haste, their infantry and cavalry leaving
the ground about the same time.The rebel loss is believed to be about 15 or 20 killed and
many wounded.For the want
of a sufficient infantry force and a battery to protect our movements,
Col. Leonard was compelled to let the rebel guns remain in position, and
after nightfall the rebels returned and took them off.

The
rebel battery consisted of 3 Parrott 10-pounders, one 12-pounder
carrying the Sawyer shell, and two smoothbore 6-pounders.Some of their infantry were armed with the improved long-range
rifles.This force came
from Bath.The cavalry and
infantry came by the country roads, that the battery came by railroad
from Martinsburg.They are
probably en route to Winchester and Harper's Ferry, and stopped at that
point to destroy the dam and thus impede canal transportation.

This
morning the rebels were in considerable force and kept up a scattering
fire upon our men whenever visible.One Union soldier was struck twice and severely wounded, that
this was the only casualty of our side during the whole affair.

At
10 o'clock last night a portion of the 1st brigade here was put in
readiness to start to Williamsport, but at a later hour the quarter was
countermanded.

This
noon eight battery of Parrott guns was forwarded to Harper's Ferry by
train, to be in readiness should the rebels again wish to test their
skill and projectiles.

WEDNESDAYDECEMBER 11, 1861NEW
HAMPSHIRE PATRIOT & STATE GAZETTE

REPORT
OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.

The
duties of the navy during the past summer than threefold; to guard the
insurgent ports and a coastline of nearly three thousand miles; to
protect our maritime commerce and cruise in pursuit of a piratical
vessels sent out by the confederates; and to take part in combined naval
and military expedition against North and South Carolina, and the ports
of the infected districts.The
report of the Secretary of the Navy gives detailed information of the
manner in which these arduous duties that have been performed.

Vessels
have been sunk in Ocracoke Inlet, on the North Carolina Coast, and
others are about to be sunk in the harbor's of Charleston and Savannah.

One
hundred and fifty-three vessels, of various sizes, had been captured
since the institution of the blockade, most of them in attempting to run
the blockade.

The
naval expeditions were, it seems, planned after receiving the reports of
a board of officers, who deliberated on the best points to be attacked
and seized.This board
consisted of Captains J.F.
.Dupont and Charles H. Davis of the navy, Major John G. Barnard of the
army, and Professor Alexander Bache of the coast survey.

The
Secretary reports that Flag Officer A.H. Foote, of the navy, has organized an efficient naval force and
the Mississippi, auxiliary to the army.

If
of private years, the report states that "such of these cruisers as
eluded the blockade and capture were soon wrecked, beached or sunk, with
the exception of one, the steamer Sumter, which, by some fatality, was
permitted to pass the Brooklyn, then blockading one of the passes of the
Mississippi, and after a brief and feeble chase by the latter, was
allowed to proceed on her piratical voyage.An investigation of this whole occurrence has been ordered by the
department."

The
Secretary fully sustains the act of Capt. Wilkes in capturing Mason and
Slidell.He says admirably:

"The
prompt and decisive action of Capt and Wilkes on this occasion merited
and received the emphatic approval of the department, and if a too
generous forbearance was exhibited by him in not capturing the vessel
which had these rebel emissaries on board, it may, in view of the
special circumstances, and of its patriotic motives, be excused; but it
must by no means be permitted to constitute a precedent hereafter for
the treatment of any case of similar infraction of neutral obligations
by foreign vessels engage in commerce or the carrying trade."

There
were, on the 4th of March last, in commission and at the
service of the Secretary of the Navy, only 42 vessels, carrying 555
guns, and 7600 men.There
are to-day in commission 254 vessels, carrying 2357 guns, and over
22,000 men.This is an immense work to do with little more than eight
months.Besides this, there
will be ready very shortly, 52 new steamers, "peculiarly adapted to
coast guard duty," three of which are iron-clad.

The
Secretary advises the creation of more grades in the naval service, as
likely to add to the efficiency of the work, by with making the rewards
more frequent.Also, he
recommends a rule that officers be retired with a sufficient to
allowance, after forty-five years' service.Twenty-five acting

lieutenants,
four hundred and thirty-three acting masters, and two hundred and nine
masters' mates, have been appointed, in order to have officers enough
for this largely increased navy.There
have also been acting engineers and surveyors appointed. The Secretary
asks Congress to foster the Naval School to such a degree that at least
double the usual number of cadets may be instructed.

On
the slavery question the Secretary says nothing, but the following,
"on the employment of fugitives," will show that he proposes
to protect loyal men, and arrest insurgents, without asking if they'd be
white or black.He says:

"In
the coastwise and blockading duties of the navy, is has been not
unfrequent that fugitives from insurrectionary places have sought our
ships for refuge and protection, and our naval commanders have applied
to me for instruction as to the proper disposition which should be made
of such refugees.My answer
has been that, if insurgents, they should be handed over to the custody
of the government; but if, on the contrary, they were free from any
voluntary participation in the rebellion and sought the shelter and
protection of our flag, then they should be cared for and employed in
some useful manner, and might be enlisted to serve on our public vessels
or in navy yards, receiving wages for their labor.If such employment could not be furnished to all by the navy,
they might be referred to the army, and if no employment could be found
for them in the public service, they should be allowed to proceed freely
and peaceably, without restraint, to seek a livelihood in any loyal
portion of the country.This
I have considered to be the whole required duty, in the premises, of our
naval officers."

The
naval estimates for the year ending June 30, 1863, amount to
$44,623,665; and besides this, the Secretary reports the deficit of
$16,530,000, needed for current expenses to pay for vessels purchased,
and for necessary alterations incurred in fitting them for naval
purposes, for the purchase of additional vessels, and for the
construction and completion a twenty iron-clad vessels.

The
Message in Washington.--A letter from Washington says: "The
universal topic of conversation in this city is the President's Message.
Opinions about it differ as widely as do the partisan preferences of the
people. The ultra Abolition element in Congress is sorely
disappointed by the utter failure of the efforts to engraft their
principles either on the President's Message or in any of the
Secretaries' reports. This class of politicians to clear the
message to be tame and ineffective. On the other hand, the
moderate men of all parties are highly pleased. The absence of all
passion, boasting and threats in the Message, and the kind and catholic
spirits exhibited towards the deluded people of the insurgent States,
are regarded as the highest evidence of a lofty statesmanship. As
the moderate men compose nine-tenths of the population of the country,
the Message will doubtless meet with popularity."

THURSDAYDECEMBER 12, 1861THE
PITTSFIELD (MA) SUN

THE
WAR NEWS.

A
sharp engagement took place Wednesday, some of five miles above Newport
News, between four U. S . gunboats and the rebel steamer Patrick
Henry, which lasted two hours.The rebels claimed that no damage was done to them.

It
is reported that some Federal troops who were encamped near Somerville,
on the Cumberland river, Ky., were attacked on Sunday week by the
rebels, who had planted artillery on the opposite side of the river.A rebel officer was killed.There are no further particulars.

Bands
of men from 50 to 75, representing themselves from Price's army, are
reported in the country west of Sedalia, Mo., robbing and plundering
everything belonging to Union man they can lay hands on.

Information
has been received at the Aspinwall, that the privateer Sumter was
at Martinique on Nov. 9th, and that the U.S. gunboat Iroquois was
within three hours' sail of her.The
news from St. Thomas confirms the report of the presence of the Sumter
at Martinique on the 9th, and states that the Iroquois left St.
Thomas on the 12th, probably too late to overtake her.

The
Royal W.I.M.S. Co.are said
to have given orders to their agents at the different stations to
furnish no coal to U.S. war vessels, in consequence of the boarding of
the Trent by the San Jacinto.

Another
fleet of old whalers is being prepared at New London, to be sunk in
southern channels.

The
U.S. ship Hartford, from the East India Squadron, arrived at
Philadelphia Wednesday, from China.

A
battle, according to Memphis papers, took place at Morristown, East
Tennessee, on Dec. 1st, in which 600 rebels were entirely routed by 3000
men under Parson Brownlow.

Regulations
have been issued, directing the cotton, rice, &c., of the disloyal
States found in places taken in held by our troops, to be secured in
prepared for market.The
slaves in such places are to be employed and paid as laborers.The property of loyal citizens is not to be interfered with.

Gen.
Halleck has issued regulations that all persons in the service of the
Confederates who shall commit hostilities, will be treated as criminals
and not as prisoners of war; also that all property belonging to them or
to such as give aid and encouragement to the rebels, is to be
confiscated.Persons within our lines giving information or communicating
with the enemy are to be treated as spies.Union families who have been robbed by the rebels and are
destitute, are to be quartered on secessionists and fed and clothed at
their expense.

According
to Southern reports, Montgomery has been defeated and taken prisoner,
and Gen. Siegel is surrounded at Sedalia by Gen. McCulloch's force.

If
Secretary Seward has written a letter to Gen. McClellan, suggesting the
military arrest of any person who shall, in future, cause the
imprisonment of slaves escaping from hostile service.

The
Secretary of War has issued an order, that all our prisoners taken by
the enemy, and men that missing, are to be transferred two skeleton
regiments, to be formed, and the Governors of the different States are
to supply the vacancies thus made in the original regiments.

Southern
papers say that an attack on Fort Pulaski may be hourly expected, and
that 16 of the Federal ships are inside the bar.From the same source, we learn that Gen. Floyd's command has been
ordered to another important post for duty, and it is also said hat Gen.
Floyd has fallen back to within 30 miles of the Virginia and East
Tennessee R.R.

Some
300 rebels visited Independence, Mo., on Monday week, and plundered the
property of Union citizens.They
also seized all the horses of the Pacific Stage Co.

A
gang of returned rebels from Price's army were attacked on the 4th, by
exasperated citizens, about 20 miles from the Dunksburg, Mo.Seven were killed and 10 wounded; three of whom have since
died.None of the citizens were
killed.

All
communication between Kansas City and Independence is cut off.

Four
transports, loaded with horses, ordnance and stores for Gen. Butler's
expedition, will sail from Boston in a day or two.

Great
Expedition.--Our readers will perceive by the new railroad schedules
published to-day that, actuated by a public spirit which gives them fresh
claims to the grateful consideration of the entire community, the several
railroad companies on the seaboard line the united in adopting a rate of
speed on their respective roads which actually reduces the time of travel
between Washington and Boston within twentyhours!Thus a person leaving Boston at two P.M.Arrives at Washington
at 9 1-2 o'clock next morning.We
have heard of an ancient personage who, in the fervor of faith, said he
believed a certain dogma because it was impossible; but here is an
achievement in transportation which we can scarcely believe, although it is
proved to be possible.We
remember hearing a gentleman of this city, many years ago, before the happy
introduction of railways, relates how, on entering the hall of the Exchange
Hotel in Boston, one evening, and stating that he had left Washington fivedays before--traveling by stage and steamboat--he was listen to what
some incredulity.Was it
possible; only five days from Washington to Boston!What was the world coming to?And
now . . .Has any man ever
tried seriously to estimate the debt of gratitude which the world owes to
the public spirit which has blessed it with railroads?Not in comfort alone to the traveler, or even in their
incalculable benefits to commerce, but in the saving of precious time.It is only those who are aged enough to have been trundled and jolted
along at three miles an hour, in the former older vehicles of travel, that
can begin to appreciate the blessings of railroads.--National
Intelligencer.

-----

The
War Report.--The report of the Secretary of War affords us a clear
insight into the operations of the army.It appears that since the outbreak of the rebellion, 713,512 men have
been in the service of the country.This
large number includes of the regular army of 16,000 men; also the three
months' enlistments, which amounted to 77,875.The several arms of the service are an estimated two comprise 660,971
men, a force, it would seem, equal to the great emergencies of the country."We have here," says of the Secretary, "an evidence of
the wonderful strength of our Institutions.Without conscriptions, levies, drafts, or other extraordinary
expedients, we have raised a greater force than that which, gathered by
Napoleon with the aid of all these appliances, was considered an evidence of
his wonderful genius and energy, and of the military's spirit of the French
Nation.Here every man has an
interest in the Government, in rushes to its defense when dangers beset
it."

-----

Our
most distinguished critics admit that Gen. McClellan is the greatest reviewer
this country ever produced.

FRIDAYDECEMBER 13, 1861THE
HARTFORD DAILY COURANT (CT)

The
News of Mason and Slidell's Capture, in England.

We
printed, yesterday, under the supposition that it was authentic, and
extract from the Scotsman, professing to give the opinions of the
law officers of the British crown in a case of the JamesAdger,
laying down the principles which would be applicable to the case of the Trent,
when they should come to hear of it.There are reasons, however, to doubt the authenticity of the
information purporting to come from the law officers.The Scotch paper published in Edinburgh on the 21st Nov., made
the statement; but the London journals of the 23d contained no such
news; and it is not probable that the English cabinet would allow such
an important item of information to leak out through a Scotch paper,
when the principle conceded bore so harshly on the doctrine which
England has always contended for so stoutly--her supremacy in English
waters.The matter is
exceedingly delicate, and any law officer who allowed such a cabinet
secret to leak out would be in danger of summary dismissal from his
station and it's a very considerable emoluments.On the whole, we doubt whether the Scotsman had good
authority for this statement is made.

By
the Hansa, we have information of the way the news of Mason and
Slidell's capture was received in Liverpool. The LaPlata
brought the news from St. Thomas to Southampton on the 27th to
November.Forthwith, on that same 27th of Nov., an indignation a
meeting of merchants was held at Liverpool, denouncing the gross insult
to the majesty of the British flag, and calling on government to take
action!Of course; that's
just what we expected to hear from the merchants; but the
merchants of Britain by no means constitute the government.Wait, until we hear from the cabinet after consultation with the
law officers.In England,
the government, in matters of great importance, does not hesitate to
treat commercial and manufacturing outcries very cavalierly.It will take much time for all the particulars of the case to be
learned, sufficient to enabled the law officers to give a legal opinion,
and it may take months before all the matters of fact, such as the
lawyers are likely to demand information upon before they speak to the
merits of the case, can be officially ascertained.After that is done, the diplomacy of Britain is not renowned for
promptness of action, and any correspondence between Lord John Russell
on the one hand, and our Mr. Seward on the other, will inevitably be of
fearful length, displaying consummate ability on both sides and blocking
an enormous number of quires of State stationery.Trust to red-tape for that, and take the growls of the merchants
and manufacturers, interested to break the blockade, and at a very smart
discount.We shall see a
vast amount of bluster, but the fact that British consuls declined only
one-half of one per cent., shows that the British themselves have little
expectation that a war will grow out of Mason and Slidell's capture.

P.S.--We
are in receipt of an article a column long from the London Times
of Nov. 26th.It concedes
the whole case to the American side, while putting on just enough of
John Bull bluster and arrogance to make its article palatable to the
British public.It concedes that it is a right of belligerents to search
neutral vessels at sea, and that English precedents and usage is are too
clear to admit of a doubt that Captain Wilkes was exercising only his
strict rights, although it is claimed that he acted in an unnecessarily
harsh manner.It is said,
"The legal course would have been to take the ship itself into
port, and to ask for her condemnation or the condemnation of the
passengers, in a court of Admiralty.The result might no doubt have been the same; but if the
proceeding was irregular we have surely a right to demand that these
prisoners shall be restored." The tenor of the article is such that
if it reflects, as it probably does, the opinions of the British
ministry, the trouble will soon blow over.As for "restoring the prisoners," the keel is not yet
grown in the forests, of the vessel that would do it.All England is wrathy, but English law books, and the decisions
of the greatest admiralty-judge England ever had if, are too clear in
positive to permit John Bull to do anything more than fume.Now, watch the stock-list for a rise!

Movements
at Port Royal.

There
has been much impatience on the part of the people at the failure of
Gen. Sherman to make any use of his victory at Port Royal.A correspondent of the Tribune writing from there states that the
opinion is expressed in high quarters there that an immediate advance
into the interior to the line of the Charleston and Savannah Railroad
would beyond all doubt have broken up the rebel communication between
that city and Charleston, by destruction of the railway at the nearest
accessible point, and even placed the old flag in Savannah itself. He
opines that Gen. Sherman was waiting to see the effect of his
proclamation.If such is
the case the General must be pretty full really throughly satisfied on
this point.This same
correspondent also says that on Wednesday night, Dec. 4th, the rebels
made a simultaneous movement in that vicinity to destroy the crops of
cotton and corn.It seems
as if they had early intelligence of the expedition to Beaufort, and as
if they were determined to injure us as much as possible.It is thought that they million dollars' worth of property was
destroyed in a single night.

-----

The
Effect of Secession on Good Manners.--Rev.Dr. Butler, of Washington, in the lecture at Cincinnati a few
evenings ago, gave his audience a few instances of the amiable
disposition of young ladies of secession persuasion.In Alexandria a gallon to young artillery officer was spit upon
by two young ladies, a few days before the battle of Bull Run.He immediately inquired their names and ascertained their
residences, and on that same evening, with a number of his comrades,
serenaded of them for three hours, singing in the most sentimental songs
in praise of the loveliness and gentleness of women.

The
second "illustration" given by Dr. Butler, was as follows: In
Baltimore a young lady dropped her handkerchief one day.A Federal officer was sufficiently overcharged with etiquette to
pick it up and handed it to her.The
dear creature--type of the graces that she was--gave him a side glance,
and in dulcet tones inquired: " do you think that I would accept of
anything from an Abolition hireling?"

The
third is as good as any of the above.Well a young lady of Baltimore was walking with an "air of
impunity" along the streets, and officer rubbed against her dress.Displaying a flexibility of nose worthy the the attention of
a physiologist, the Dixianic beauty muttered the monosyllable
"wretch," and shook her expansive skirts as if to remove
something Northernly offensive.The
officer quietly followed her to her elegant house, rang the door-bell,
and called for the gentleman of the house.To this gentleman he presented the alternative of an apology from
term or a flight from her husband, if she had such an appendage, if not,
her beloved paternal relative must choose the weapons.Angelina was called and remonstrated with, and being so advised,
made the requisite apology.

-----

The
financial editor of the N.Y. Times says: "There was some
doubt in some quarters of the truth of the statements in the Edinburgh Scotsman,
and some parties preferred to defer operating until definite news was
received. A gentleman, however who came by the Africa,
measurably confirms the statements of the Scotsman. He had
an interview with our minister, Mr. Adams, before leaving London, who
informed him that he had a correspondence with Lord John Russell up on
the subject of the sailing of the Adger for the purpose of
arresting Mason and Slidell, and stated that the law officers of the
Crown admitted to the right of the Adger to make such an arrest.
Mr. Adams looked upon the Nashville matter as much of the more
serious of the two. The person making these statements is the
London resident partner of the banking house in this city, and is
entirely trustworthy.

SATURDAYDECEMBER 14, 1861THE
BOSTON DAILY ADVERTISER

The
proceedings in Congress relative to General Halleck's order excluding
fugitive slaves from his lines, are a strong case of criticism without
knowledge.General
Halleck's order was declared at the outset to be inhuman and impolitic.The general was denounced as undertaking to make a law for his
department, and as being meanly subservient to the interests of
slaveholders.It was even
hinted that he was scarcely to be trusted, on account of an alleged
disposition to deal too tenderly with rebels.Steps were therefore taken in Congress to set the seal of
repudiation upon his conduct, and to compel him to rescind his
order--the whole being done in a manner which could not fail to touch
his sense of honor.It now
proves that the angry swarm of critics were all on the wrong track.
General Halleck gave his order is a military precaution, finding it
absolutely necessary to exclude unauthorized persons from his lines.He has sound reasons to give for his course, and sound reasons
for regarding the step which he took as fully disconnected with any
general policy of the government, and as a simple matter of camp police,
properly coming within the discretion of the commanding general.The resolution which was introduced his therefore been laid up on
the table, and Mr. Owen Lovejoy himself seems disposed to allow that
General Halleck may have known what he was about.

We
get some light also on the heavier charges against the general, of
having an unreasonable tenderness towards rebels and their property of
all descriptions.He
declares, like the true soldier, that he obeys orders.He has his own opinion as to the policy of confiscating the slave
property of rebels, but what that opinion is he does not say.He merely declares that he shall execute the laws which
Congress may pass.Here's
certainly is no military dictation, nor officious advice.The general modestly defers to the legislative power all
questions of policy, confining his own action to that which is
immediately and unavoidably before him.It is the very last case for either jealousy or censure.Nor is he so mild in his dealings with ascertained rebels as to
furnish occasion for any criticism.His general orders as to the spies and marauders who infest
Missouri are peremptory and severe enough to satisfy the most exacting,
while the wealthy secessionists who still profess peace are beginning to
tremble at what he holds in prospect before them.

In
one respect, we believe, General Halleck has now gone farther than any
other officer in the field.Others
have talked about forcing the rebels to bear some of the burdens of the
war.He has actually set on
foot measures for accomplishing this desirable end.He has warned the avowed secessionists that the suffering
families of Union men, driven from their homes by the rebellion, must be
supported at their charge; and he is actually constituted a board of
assessors to levy the necessary contributions upon all who have in any
way given aid, information or encouragement to the rebels.The course of doing which he proposes to adopt is severe, but it
is just; it practically introduces a discrimination between suffering
loyalty and well supplied treachery, which will commend itself to the
good sense of the nation; and it also gives the final proof of the
unreasonable and absurd nature of the charges, so ignorantly brought
against the commanding general in Missouri.

Sickness
at Nashville.--All accounts represent the rebels in Tennessee and
suffering greatly from sickness.The
hospitals are said to be crowded, small pox being one of the most
prevalent disorders.That
is a graphic picture of the state of things--indeed too graphic, which
an alleged refugee gives, when he says that in Nashville " the
deaths were so frequent that they supplied the draymen of the city with
their principal business."

Governor
Andrew and the Fugitives.--From what we can learn we are disposed to
think that the statements as to an alleged remonstrance by Governor
Andrew " against the employment of Massachusetts volunteers by Gen.
Stone to restore fugitive slaves" has been so framed as to convey
an incorrect impression of the purpose of the Governor's
representations.It is understood that an exceedingly loose practice had
obtained some footing in General Stone's camps if of allowing men, even
when suspected or known to be secessionists, to take away Negroes found
by them within the lines, although with no proof and with scarcely any
presumptions of ownership.It
was to stop this practice, as we understood, that Governor Andrew
successfully exerted his influence.

The
Intention of the Federal Government.--We observe that the London Times
says of the seizure of Mason and Slidell, that "the intention of
the Federal Government evidently was to act upon their strict right, and
to do so in as little ceremonious a manner as might be." And
elsewhere the Times remarks that it " cannot yet believe,
although the evidence is strong, that it is the fixed determination of
the Government of the Northern States to force a quarrel upon the Powers
of Europe."

It
may set our English friends right as to the "intentions" of
the government, when they learn that although it ratified the act of
Captain Wilkes, it did not order nor anticipate that act.It is due to the truth of history and due to the gallant officer
himself, that it should be understood that he acted entirely upon his
own responsibility.The
following extract from Captain Wilkes's report to the Secretary of the
Navy discloses the true state of the case:

"When
I heard at Cienfuegos, on the south side of Cuba, of these commissioners
having landed on the island of Cuba, and that they were at Havana, and
would depart in the English steamer of the 7th of November, I determined
to intercept them, and carefully examined all the authorities on
international law to which I had access, viz Kent, Wheaton, Vattell,
besides various decisions of Sir Wm Scott, and other Judges of the
Admiralty Court of Great Britain, which bore upon the rights of neutrals
and their responsibilities.

"The
governments of Great Britain, France, and Spain, having issued
proclamations that the Confederate States were viewed, considered, and
treated as belligerents, and knowing that the ports of Great Britain,
France, Spain, and Holland, in the West Indies, were open to their
vessels, and that they were admitted to all the courtesies and
protection which vessels of the United States received, every aid and
attention being given them, proved clearly that they acted upon this
view and decision, and brought them within the international law of
search and under the responsibilities.I therefore felt no hesitation in boarding and searching all
vessels of what every nation I fell in with, and have done so."

"I
may add that, having assumed responsibility, I am willing to abide the
result."

This
extract, besides disclosing the singular spectacle of a naval officer
studying his Vattell, Kent and Wheaton, together with "various
decisions of Sir William Scott and other Judges of the Admiralty Court
of Great Britain," shows that he acted without previous
instructions. A knowledge of this fact materially changes the bearing of
the caser, as it is presented by some of the London papers.